Description
Christian theologians rarely study the Old Testament in its final Hebrew canonical form, even though this was very likely the Bible of Jesus and the early church. However, once read as a whole, the larger structure of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) provides a 'wide-angle lens' through which its contents can be viewed.
In this stimulating exposition, Stephen Dempster argues that, despite its undoubted literary diversity, the Hebrew Bible possesses a remarkable structural and conceptual unity. The various genres and books are placed within a comprehensive narrative framework which provides an overarching literary and historical context. The many texts contribute to this larger text, and find their meaning and significance within its story of 'dominion and dynasty', which ranges from Adam to the Son of Man to David, and to a coming Davidic king.
Endorsements
"Dr Dempster's reading of the story-line of the Old Testament is fresh, provocative, helpful - and doubtless will prove to be the stuff of many sermons and lectures. His closing chapter points to some of the links that bind the Old and New Testaments together, an obviously urgent goal for the Christian preacher and teacher."
-D. A. Carson
Table of Contents
Series preface
Author's preface
INTRODUCTION
1 A book or a ragbag: a literary approach to Old Testament
Testament
Old Testament theology: the Bible through different eyes
An 'appropriate reading' of the biblical text
The Old Testament: texts or Text
Explicit signals of textual coherence
The present study: a literary approach and biblical theology
Biblical theology, Tanakh structure and the emergence of a literary
approach
Canonization and contextualization
2 The beginning, middle and ending of the Tanakh: a preview of
the storyline (Adam to David)
Plan, purpose, plot
Dominion, dynasty and David in Genesis and Chronicles
The middle of the Tanakh
I DOMINION LOST: THE RISE AND FALL OF ISRAEL
3 The narrative storyline begins (Genesis)
'These are the generations of...'
The goal of creation
The garden of Eden
The fall
Genealogical and geographical hope
Creation and covenant
Shem, the Table of Nations and the tower of Babel
The genealogy of Shem and the call of Abram: land, descendants,
universal blessing
The divine answer to the human plight
The Abram story: geography and genealogy
The Jacob story: the merging of geography and genealogy
The Joseph story and universal blessing
4 The narrative storyline continues (Exodus to Deuteronomy)
Exodus: multiplication, oppression, liberation
Leviticus: sacrifice and holiness
Numbers: journey to hell and back
Deuteronomy: at the border of Canaan
5 The narrative storyline continues: the Former Prophets (Joshua
to Kings)
The Prophets
The Former Prophets: the dead end of exile
Joshua: occupation and settlement
Judges: the darkness settles
Samuel: the promise of a king
Kings: the dead end of exile
II RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT: A STUMP AND A SHOOT
6 Suspension of the storyline - poetic commentary begins:
the Latter Prophets (Jeremiah to the Twelve)
The Latter Prophets
Jeremiah: demolition and reconstruction
Ezekiel: the life-giving divine presence
Isaiah: the shoot from Jesse's stump
The Twelve: the impending eschaton
Summary of the prophetic commentary
7 Poetic commentary continues: the Writings (Ruth to
Lamentations)
Ruth: exile, return and David
The Psalms: David, David and David
The wisdom literature: to master the world
Job: the moral government of the universe
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs: a Solomonic stamp
Lamentation: curse and the mercies
III DOMINION REGAINED: THE FALL AND THE RISE OF ISRAEL
8 Ending of poetic commentary and resumption of narrative
storyline (Daniel to Chronicles)
Daniel: the coming kingdom
Esther: history with an Israelite shape
Ezra-Nehemiah and Chronicles: the end and the beginning
CONCLUSION
9 Typology and New Testament reflections
Bibliography
Index of ancient sources
Index of modern authors
Index of Scripture references
Product Details
Title: Dominion and dynasty: A Theology of the Hebrew Bible
Author: Stephen G. Dempster
Publisher: Apollos
Pages: 268
Binding: Paperback
Size: 21.6 x 14.0 x 1.5 cm
ISBN: 9780851117836